Lectures/Workshops/Surveys

LecturesIn addition to conservation treatments at the Workshop, TCW conservators travel to historic sites throughout the region to offer educational lectures. These activities are aimed at enlightening the general public and training museum staff and volunteers.

Lecture topics include: General Conservation of Textiles, Textiles in the Historic House, Archival Storage of Textiles, Conservation of Historic Samplers, Conservation of Historic Wedding Dresses. Lectures are accompanied by powerpoint visuals, which highlight objects that have received conservation treatment at TCW. At these gatherings, we welcome question-and-answer sessions, and more specific inquiries about privately-owned objects or pieces from the collection of the host museum.

Care of textiles in the Historic House are demonstrated in the lecture.

Well-designed storage space, behind the scenes at Old Economy Village Ambridge, PA.

Instructing proper rolling of flat textiles

Textiles properly rolled, boxed and labeled for storage

WorkshopsOn location Workshops are arranged in partnership with local historic sites and networking organizations within the cultural community. The goal is to advance professional standards and practices. These Workshops held at host institutions include demonstrations of proper care and handling of the full range of furnishing textiles, methods for upgrading storage such as rolling and boxing, and housekeeping in an historic space. The objective is to create organized management that keeps objects safe in both behind-the-scenes storage as well as public exhibit areas. These practical, hands-on collections care sessions can extend the life of textiles, precluding the need for future treatment.

Public exhibit area Epirotic Folkloric Museum, Astoria NY

John Jay Homestead, a local historic house museum that has engaged a community of outside, contracted textile experts.

SurveysA survey is often a useful step in defining areas of concern and targeting new projects, as a museum grows and professionalizes. A general survey is conducted by a conservator who comes on-site and makes a broad evaluation of the institution's needs for their textile collection. This type of survey is intended to offer practical suggestions for improving museum storage and exhibit spaces and can encompass suggestions on all aspects of collections management. A conservator may examine the temperature, relative humidity, pollution and light levels, housekeeping practices, approaches to pest control and fire suppression, security and disaster preparedness. The site visit includes interviews with relevant staff and is followed up with a written report which makes recommendations for prioritizing improvements in general care for the collection. A more specific object-by-object survey approach is suitable for museums concentrating on a discreet collection and wishing to establish treatment priorities for individual textiles. This survey culminates with proposed treatment reports and cost estimates for the eventual conservation of selected items. Both kinds of surveys can provide a professional fund raising tool.

CONSULTATIONS

Conservators also go on-site to perform hands-on work when necessary. Many institutions require the services of an outside team. In an historic house where staff is limited, almost all conservation is outsourced to professionals. When objects require in-situ attention, the conservator will bring her tools and expertise on-site. Emergency disaster recovery of textiles, installation and de-installation of large, or unwieldy textiles such as tapestries, mounted quilts or modern wall-hangings, or repair of bedhangings, drapery or wall-coverings may all be occasion for on-site work. This kind of work is typically contracted at at a flat-fee rate per day, which is multiplied per conservator. All travel costs and material costs are additional.

Conservators are assisted by art handlers as they hoist a large-mounted quilt onto its exhibition space.

A team of TCW conservators work to consolidate flaking painted wallpaper, at Caramoor, a historic house.

MATERIAL ANALYSIS

TCW conservators are trained to evaluate textiles from the structural and chemical standpoint as well as the art historical perspective. The Workshop houses a library of reference materials pertinent to the study of conservation issues. We carry out microscopic fiber identification, dye and soil solubility tests, sampling for cross-section analysis on painted textiles and iron-gall dye identification. Pertinent test results are recorded in our Examination and Proposed Treatment Report. The scientific component in conjunction with the comprehensive expertise of a collaborative team of textile conservators shapes a balanced, informed, responsible treatment. A specific request for fiber identification can be undertaken for a fee.